Receptacle closure



Maz'ch 29 194%. H. w. SANFORD RECEPTACLE CLOSURE Filed Feb. 7, 1944Patefited Mar. 29, 1949 RECEPTACLE CLOSURE Hugh W. Sanford, Knoxville,Tenn.

Application February 7, 1944,'Serial No. 521,483

8 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in receptacle closures of thecharacter designed particularly for carbonated beverages ordinarilydispensed in bottles, cans or other receptacles, that may be providedwith apouring neck or mouth used to discharge the beverage therefrom.

Carbonated beverages are confined in containers under pressures whichare often as high as 60 to 75 pounds per square inch. It has been thepractice heretofore to seal the mouth of the container for suchbeverages by means of a crown cap secured to the crowning ring at theopen end of the neck. Such crown caps have been required because it hasnot been possible to obtain a sufficient sealing action by a screw capto hold the pressure of the carbonated beverage. This was true eventhough a gasket be interposed between the cap and the neck of thecontainer. It has been found that such a screw closure, when screwed onor removable by hand, would not hold a pressure greater than 20 poundsper square inch, which is considerably less than that customarily usedin carbonated beverages. Furthermore, it is desirable with largecontainers to reseal the pressure after a partial emptying of thecontents, which is not possible with a crown cap.

In my prior application on Closures, Ser. No. 371,541, filed December24, 1940, now Patent No. 2,372 227, granted March 27, 1945, I havedisclosed a screw cap that may be put on by hand or manually removed andin which the pressure of the carbonated beverage itself, acting on thegasket, is utilized to increase the sealing action of the gasket,thereby holding against leakage the maximum internal pressure that thecontainer itself can withstand, either when initially sealed or whenresealed by hand.

It has been the practice in stores and other places where carbonatedbeverages are sold, to

' keep these cool by immersing the bottles or other containers in icewater in a dispensing cabinet, the bottles being manually removed asthey are sold. Frequently the persons who remove the bottles plungetheir hands into the ice water to lift them out. The result is that theice water surrounding the bottles becomes polluted due to the unsanitaryhandling of the bottles, and yet this polluted water comes into contactwith substantially the entire outer portion of the bottle neck, and evenhas access to the seal itself, located between the horizontal topsurface of the container neck and the superimposed cap. Moreover, sincethese sealing gaskets are somewhat porous, this pollution may extendover the top surface of the container neck to some extent. Then when thebeverage is removed from the container, either by drinking directly fromthe neck or even when pouring it out of the neck of the container, thebeverage will be polluted and unsanitary when consumed. Even if thebottle is not immersed in ice water before the beverage is consumed, thedrinking neck and top gasket may become polluted by handling or byexternal causes.

The removable caps used heretofore for sealing carbonated beveragecontainers have closed only the extreme end of the neck, leaving thesides of the neck exposed to the extreme end thereof, and these aresealed at the end only by a single seal ing gasket which is clampedbetween the cap and the end of the neck. When such bottles are immersedin ice water or handled. in the ordinary way, there is nothing toprevent the contamination of the neck nor from preventing the ice waterfrom passing up under the edge of the cap until it reaches the sealinggasket. Thus, such containers have had no provision for protecting thedrinking portion of the bottle neck and the pouring lip thereof frompollution.

An object of this invention is to protect and conceal the drinkingsurface or the pouring lip to prevent it from beingcontaminated byoutside pollution while the cap is in place on the container and untilthe cap is removed for drinking purposes, but in a container in whichthe cap may be sealed sufficiently to hold carbonated beverages undersubstantial pressure such as has been used heretofore, preventing theescape of any of the pressure from within the container to whateverextent it may build up less than that which will burst the containeritself.

This is accomplished by locating the sealing gasket down on the neck ofthe container sufficiently far so that it will seal oif the drinking orpouring portion of the neck again-st the entrance thereto of outsidecontamination from ice water or other causes whenever the cap is inplace on the container. This may be combined either with a screw cap formanual release and application,

or with a crown-type of cap. There may be provided two gaskets one overthe end of the neck removed either by drinking or pouring.

A further object of the invention is to improve the construction of thecontainer for carbonated beverages, to facilitate the use thereof fordrinking or pouring the contents from the container, by keeping theperiphery of the mouth of the container dry and free of liquid betweenthe sealing gasket that is spaced downwardly an appreciable distancefrom the mouth, and the pouring lip itself.

entire exposed inner surface of the cap. This is not required to be asexpensive material as cork because it does not seal off the gaspressure, and much less expensive materials, such as cardboard, would beeffective for the purpose. Nevertheless, it would prevent contact of theliquid in the container with the metal or other material forming thecap, thereby permitting the use of tin or other cheap materials for theconstruction of the cap. This makes the closure less expensive than theordinary cap of the crown type used heretofore.

One embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings,in which:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged vertical section through a bottle neck having ascrew cap thereon representing one form of this invention; and

Fig. 2 is a similar partial sectional view therethrough with the cap inthe position before sealing occurs.

This closure cap is adapted for use on various types of containers forcarbonated beverages, such as for a neck portion through which thecontents may be discharged, although it is shown as applied to a glassbottle of the character usually employed for this purpose. The bottlehas the usual neck I of elongated form and terminating in an open mouththrough which the beverage may be discharged either by' ouring ordrinking directly from the mouth of the container. The size of thecontainer is considerably exaggerated in the drawings for purpose ofillustration, but the container wouldbe of the size usually employed forthis purpose. The open end of the mouth of the neck is shown as formedin a plane substantially at right angles to the axis of the bottle, butshould be rounded off somewhat to facilitate sealing and discharge ofthe contents.

The periphery of the neck I is formed with an outwardly extendingshoulder 2 spaced an appreciable distance downward from the mouth of theneck, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Above the shoulder 2, the periphery ofthe neck I is externally screw-threaded at 3 to receive a screw capthereon, the screw-threads being shown as a preferable form ofrotational wedging means, other forms of which may be substitutedtherefor, if desired. The screw-threads should extend preferably throughone or more convolutions about the neck of the container, sufficient toprovide a leverage for adjustably securing the cap on the container, butthe upper end of the thread preferably terminates at a point spaceddownwardly from the mouth of the neck, usually a distance of at leastone-eighth inch, to provide a smooth peripheral surface 4 on the upperend of the neck below the mouth edge thereof, which is indicated at 5.This provides a smooth drinking and pouring edge, uninterrupted bythreads.

The closure cap is designated 6 and is shown as of drawn or rolledmetal, although it may be constructed of any other suitable material,such as plastics or other molded or formed products. The cap 6 has acylindrical side wall 1 adapted to extend downward over the neck I andis internally threaded at 8 for adjustable connection with the threads 3on the neck I. The lower edge of the side Wall 'I of the cap terminatesin an out- 4' wardly and downwardly extending skirt 8 spaced from theperiphery of the neck I at a point above the shoulder 2, leaving an opencrack between the skirt and the shoulder.

A gasket I0 is seated uponthe shoulder 2 inwardly of the skirt 9, andthe inner edge of the gasket I0 is preferably of smaller diameter thanthe external diameter of the screw thread 3, so as to be retained on theneck of the container against accidental slipping off. This gasket I IIis shown as substantially V-shaped in cross section, being slit withdiverging sides, with one side thereof seated upon the shoulder 2 whilethe other side is in position to engage and bear against the skirt 9.Thisskirt 9 has an internal shoulder I I in the portion thereof joiningthe periphery of the side wall I, so as to pinch the upstanding side ofthe gasket I0 between the shoulder II and the shoulder 2 as the cap issecured on the container.

The screw-threaded connection at 3, 8, is sufficiently loose so as toallow fluid pressure from within the container to leak past thisconnection into pressure relation with the sides of the gasket I0 andexpand these, respectively, against the skirt 9 and shoulder 2, therebysealing the crack therebetween. This fluid pressure always acts in adirection perpendicular to the exposed surface areas."

The gasket I0 is preferably constructed of flexible material whichshould be somewhat resilient. such as soft rubber, cardboard, or othermaterial which will allow the gasket to flex and expand in response tointernal pressure acting against the sides thereof. Where the containeris to be washed in a caustic soda solution which is normally used toclean and sterilize the bottles when returned for re-use, the mainsealing gasket should be made of a material that would not be affectedby this solution. Some of the synthetic rubbers or plastic compositionswould be particularly desirable for this purpose, such as neoprene orKoroseal.

If desired or needed, an additional gasket I2 may be used beneath thebody portion of the cap, extending over the entire inner surfacethereof. This gasket I2 may be formed of soft cardboard, cork or othersuitable material since it is not required to seal the gas pressure ofthe carbonated beverage in the container, but merely keeps the liquidaway from contact with the inner surface of the cap. Where the gasket isformed of a relatively cheap material like cardboard, it should becoated preferably with wax, paraflin, or Vinylite," as shown at I3,where exposed to contact with the liquid in the container or throughoutthe inner surface of the gasket I2.

The gasket I2 is secured permanently to the cap 6, while the gasket I0is retained on the bottle. Then in applying the cap to the bottle, asshown in Fig. 2, the cap slips over the neck of the bottle and isscrewed down with the shoulder I I bearing upon the upstanding side ofthe gasket III, which side is braced against the skirt 9, and with theperipheral portion of the gasket I2 bearing upon the mouth 5 of thebottle. This will continue until these gaskets are compressed,substantially as shown in Fig. 1.

The gasket I2 serves not only to protect the inner surface of the metalcap from the carbonated beverage-in the container but it also preventsthe liquid from wetting the exterior surface of the container neck evenwhen the bottle is turned upside down. This is accomplished because thegasket IZ will be squeezed between the cap 5 and the mouth 5 of thebottle neck .even when the screw cap is applied by hand, the pinching atthe periphery of the gasket l2 being sufiicient to prevent the escape ofliquid when the gas pressures are approximately balanced on both sidesof it. This also keeps the liquid in the container away from contactwith the main sealing gasket l0 spaced downwardly on the outside of thebottle neck, which makes it possible for the sealing gasket ill to beformed of rubber or other yieldable material because there is no dangerof the flavor of the beverage being changed by contact with this mainsealing gasket.

Nevertheless, any gas pressure from within the container which leakspast the gasket l2 and also past the screw threads 3, 8, will act toexpand the sides of the gasket Ill effectively against the skirt 9 andshoulder 2, and thereby cause an effective sealing of the cracktherebetween sufficiently to hold any pressure against leakage that thecontainer itself will hold. This sealing action in response to theexpansion by the fluid would be caused as soon as the gasket I0 ispinched between the shoulder ii and the shoulder 2, which pinchingprevents the leakage of pressure around the sides of the gasket andstarts the sealing action in response to the pressure itself to seal offthe pressure. Thus, any gas or liquid that reaches the gasket IE willnot get past this gasket after the first pinching pressure has beenexerted, because the pressure, in addition to the pinching pressure,seals the gasket.

It is preferred that the gasket in be formed of soft rubber, or somesuitable resilient material which will last through many uses, andwithstand the cleaning processes without damage or requiring removal.This should be sufficiently yieldable to be expanded over the threads 3,and

will also yield in response to fluid pressure to seal the crack. It isalso preferred that the gasket i2 be formed of relatively inexpensivecardboard wh ch is adequate for the purpose. The gasket ill will thenserve not only to prevent the leakage of pressure from within thebottle, but it is spaced downward suificiently far from the mouth of thebottle that it will seal the lower edge of the cap against the leakageof water or other contaminating substances to the region of the neck atthe mouth.

It has been found that if the sealing gasket is made of soft yieldablematerial, such as rubber, and yet has a relatively thin section, thatrotation. of the cap against the gasket where the pinching pressureoriginates, has the effect of tending to distort the gasket and perhapswrinkle it in a way that will allow high pressure fluid to leak throughthe crack. It has been found also that when the bottle is under highpressure and the screw cap is to be removed, that an adhesive gasketbearing against the vertical wall of the cap will make it necessary touse more pressure to unscrew the cap. I have discovered that both ofthese troubles can be overcome by using a gasket which has either a verylow coefiicient of friction w th the material of the cap or which hasbeen treated with materials that reduce the friction between the gasketand the cap, such as parafiin, lard, graphite or Vaseline, which act tolubricate the gasket and prevent its becoming distorted in applying thecap thereto. Such a coat ng is not objectionable for the gasket 10 becaue the contained liquid does not come into contact with it and could notreceive an unpleasant taste or odor from such a coating.

The location of the gasket l0 closely surrounding the neck of thecontainer at a point bene..th the thread 3 with its inner edge spacedinwardly from the periphery of the thread, will confine the gasket onthe neck so that it will not be removed even in the removal of the cap,but will always remain in place on thebottle. Thus when the bottledbeverage is sold, the gasket will come back when the containerisreturned for refilling and thereby may be used over and over again.Since a bottle of this character is returned for refilling from twentyto forty times, the cost of the main gasket for each use will be about 2/2% to 5% of the initial cost. Thus even if a relatively expensive maingasket is used, the cost per use would be considerably less than that ofa cheap gasket used only one time.

By the use of a screw threaded connection between the cap and the bottleneck, or other suitable form of adjustable connection, as shown in Figs.1 and 2, the cap can be applied and removed by hand, being openedwithout a special bottle opener, and it is also possible for the user toreseal the contents of the container for later use without the loss ofcarbonation. It is sufiicient to apply and secure the cap by hand, thesealing of the maximum pressure being established when the cap isscrewed down on the container. The cap is readily removable under anyordinary carbonated beverage pressures usually encountered, even as highas pounds per square inch, although the pressures more often used arefrom 60 to 75 pounds per square inch, the lowest limit usually being 25pounds per square inch.

Moreover the removal and replacement of the screw cap of Figs. 1 and 2does not involve any danger of chipping the sealing surfaces where thegaskets are in contact with the container structure. When the usualcrown cap is used in the conventional way to seal the bottle neck, therehas been quite a loss of bottles due to the chipping of the edge of thebottle neck. This chipping occurs both during the capping process andwhen the crown cap is removed with the usual hand-lever opener. Somechipping occurs also in the handling of the bottles. It is estimatedthat about 1% of the bottles become chipped in one way or another andcannot be reused. Such chipping cannot occur with screw caps of the typeshown in Figs. 1 and 2 that are both applied and removed by hand, andthereby greatly prolongs the life of the bottles.

In the form of the invention described above, the gasket at the openside of the cap is spaced downwardly from the mouth of the bottlesuinciently to seal the space between the cap and the neck of the bottleat a point remote from the region of the mouth. This will prevent theentrance of contaminating substances onto the neck at the mouth. At thesame time, the gasket in the cap will confine the liquid inside thecontainer, even if the latter should be turned upside down. This willinsure that the drinking and pouring surface of the bottle is entirelyclean and sanitary when the cap is in place.

I claim:

1. In a container for fluids under pressure, said container having apouring neck with a discharge end thereon, a cap fitting over saiddischarge end of the neck and having a flange sur rounding the outsideportion of the neck adjacent said discharge end, means on said cap andneck for adjustably interlocking the cap on the neck and permittingleakage of fluid pressure between the cap and the neck when the cap isin place thereon, an abutment surrounding the neck external surface ofthe cap when the cap is in locked position on the neck in position forsealing the crack against the leakage of fluid pressure therethrough,said sealing ring having an inner surface on the opposite side of thering from the crack spaced from the adjacent portions of the cap andneck in position for action thereon of the fluid pressure to set up adirect sealing action of the sealing ring on the aforesaid surfaces ofthe cap and abutment.

2. In a container for dispensing fluids under pressure, said containerhaving a pouring neck with a discharge end thereon, a cap fitting oversaid discharge end of the neck and having a flange surrounding theoutside portion of the neck adjacent said discharge end, means on saidflange and neck for adjustably interlocking the cap on the neck andpermitting leakage of fluid pressure between the cap and the neck whenthe cap is in place thereon, an abutment fixed to the neck andsurrounding said neck externally thereof with a relatively smoothsurface facing toward the end of the neck, said flange of the cap havinga portion providing a relatively smooth internal surface arranged at anangle to the aforesaid abutment surface when the cap is in lockedposition on the neck with a crack therebetween forming an outlet forinternal fluid pressure when the cap is in locked position on the neck.and a sealing ring of resilient material overlapping said crack inabutting relation with said abutment surface and said internal surfaceof the cap when the cap is in locked position on the neck andv sealingthe crack against the leakage of fluid pressure therethrough, saidsealing ring having an inner surface on the opposite side of the ringfrom the crack spaced from the adjacent portions of the cap and neck inposition for action thereon of the fluid pressure to cause a directsealing action of the sealing ring on the aforesaid cap and abutmentsurface.

3. In a container for fluids under pressure, said container having apouring neck with a discharge end thereon, a cap fitting over said discharge end of the neck and having a flange surrounding the outsideportion of the neck adjacent said discharge end, means on said flangeand neck for adjustably interlocking the cap on the neck and permittingleakage of fluid pressure of the cap and the neck when the cap is inplace iereon, an abutment flxed to the neck and surrounding said neckexternally thereof with a surface facing toward the end of the neck andspaced from said end, said flange of the cap having a portion providingan internal surfaccarranged at an angle to the aforesaid abutmentsurface and between the abutment surface and the end of the neck whenthe cap is in locked position on the neck with a crack between theaforesaid abutment surface and the internal surface of the cap andforming an outlet for internal fluid pressure when the cap is in lockedcontact with said abutment surface and said inposition on the neck, anda yieldable sealing ring 8 age of fluid pressure therethrough, saidsealing ring having an inner surface on the opposite side of the ringfrom the crack spaced from the adjacent portions of the cap and neck inposition for action thereon of the fluid pressure to set up a directsealing action of the sealing ring on the aforesaid abutment surface andthe internal surface of the cap which will cause the container to besealed against the leakage through the crack of the internal fluid underpressure.

4. In a container for dispensing carbonated liquids and fluids that aresubjected to a gas pressure higher than twenty pounds per square inch,said container having a pouring neck with a discharge end thereon, a capfitting over said discharge end of the neck and having a flangesurrounding the outside portion of the neck adjacent said discharge end,means on said flange and neck for adjustably interlocking the cap on theneck capable of being hand removed and then re-locked manually andpermitting leakage of fluid pressure between the cap and the neck whenthe cap is in place thereon, an abutment fixed to the neck andsurrounding said neck externally thereof with a relatively smoothsurface facing toward the end of the neck and spaced from said end, saidflange of the cap having a portion providing a relatively smoothinternal surface arranged at an angle to the aforesaid abutment surfacewhen the cap is in locked positron on the neck with a crack therebetweenand forming the only outlet for internal fluid pressure when the cap isin locked position'on the neck, and a sealing ring overlapping saidcrack in unbroken contact with said abutment surface and said internalsurface of the cap when the cap is in locked position on the neck andsealing the crack against leakage of fluid pressure therethrough, saidsealing ring having an inner surface on the opposite side of the ringfrom the crack spaced from the adjacent portions of the cap and neck inposition for action thereon of the fluid pressure to set up a directsealing action of the sealing ring on the aforesaid abutment surface andthe internal surface of the cap which will cause the container to besealed against leakage through the crack of the internal fluid underpressure.

7 5. In a container for dispensing carbonated liquids and fluids thatare subjected to a gas pressure higher than twenty pounds persquareinch, said container having a pouring neck with a discharge end thereon,a cap fitting over said discharge end of the neck and having a flangesurrounding the outside portion of the neck adjacent said discharge end,means on said flange and neck for adjustably interlocking the cap on theneck capable of being hand removed and then re-locked manually andpermitting leakage of fluid pressure between the cap and the neck whenthe cap is in place thereon, an abutment fixed to the neck andsurrounding 'said neck externally thereof with a relatively smoothsurface facing toward the end of the neck and spaced from said end, saidflange of the cap having a portion providing a relatively smoothinternal surface arranged at an angle to the aforesaid abutment surfacewhen the cap is in locked position on the neck with a crack therebetweenand forming the only outlet for internal fluid pressure when the cap isin locked position on the neck, and a substantially cup-shaped resilientsealing ring seated upon the surface of the abutunbroken contact withthe aforesaid surface of the flange on the cap when the cap is in lockedposition on the neck, said sealing ring overlapping the crack andsealing the crack against leakage of fluid pressure therethrough with aninner surface on the opposite side of the ring from the crack spacedfrom the adiacent portions of the cap and neck in position for actionthereon of the fluid pressure to set up a direct sealing action of thesealingring on the aforesaid abutment surface and the internal surfaceof the cap which will cause the container to be sealed against leakagethrough the crack of the internal fluid under pressure.

6. In a container for dispensing fluids under pressure, said containerhaving a pouring neck with a discharge end thereon, a cap fitting oversaid discharge end of the neck and having a age of fluid pressurebetween the cap and the neck when the cap is in place thereon, meansfixed to the neck and having a relatively smooth surface facing towardthe end of the necksurrounding the neck, said flange of the cap having aportion providing a relatively smooth internal surface arrangedsubstantially at an angle to the aforesaid neck surface when the cap isin locked position on the neck with a crack therebetween forming anoutlet for internal fluid pressure, and a sealing ring overlapping saidcrack in contact with said abutment surface and said internal surface ofthe cap when the cap is in locked position on the neck and sealing thecrack against leakage of fluid pressure therethrough, said sealing ringhaving an inner surface on the opposite side of the ring from the crackexposed to the leakage of fluid between the cap and neck in position foraction thereon of the fluid pressure to set up a direct sealing actionof the sealing ring on the aforesaid internal surface of the cap andneck surface.

7. In a container for dispensing fluids under pressure, said containerhaving a pouring neck with a discharge end thereon, a cap fittin overwhen the cap is in place thereon, means fixed to the neck and having arelatively smooth surface facing toward the end of the neck surroundingthe neck, said flange of the cap having a portion providing a relativelysmooth internal surface arranged substantially at an angle to theaforesaid neck surface when the cap is in locked position on the neckwith a crack therebetween forming an outlet for internal fluid pressure,and a substantially cup-shaped resilient sealing ring overlapping saidcrack in contact relation with said neck surface and said internalsurface of the can when the cap is in locked position on the neck andsealing the crack against leakage of fluid pressure therethrough, saidsealing ring having an inner surface on the opposite side of the ringfrom the crack spaced from the adjacent portions of the cap and neck inposition for action thereon of the fluid pressure to set up a directsealing connection of the sealing ring on the surface and the internalsurface neck adjacent said discharge end, a gasket within the capoverlapping the discharge end to prevent the escape of liquid fromwithin the container when the cap is in locked position thereon, meanson said flange and neck for adjustably interlocking the cap on the neckand permitting the leakage of fluid pressure between the cap and theneck when the cap is in -placethereon, means fixed to the neck andhaving a relatively smooth surface facing toward the end of the necksurrounding the neck, said flange of the cap having a portion providin arelatively smooth internal surface arranged substantially at an angle tothe aforesaid neck surface when the cap is in locked position on theneck with a crack therebetween forming an outlet for internal'fluidpressure, and a substantially cup-shaped resilient sealing ringoverlapping said crack in contact relation with said neck surface andsaid internal surface of the can when the cap is in locked position onthe neck and sealing the crack against leakage of fluid pressuretherethrough, said sealing ring havingan inner surface on the oppositeside of the ring from the crack spaced from the adjacent portions of thecap and neck in position for action thereon of the fluid pressure to setup a direct sealing action of the sealing ring on the aforesaid necksurface and the internal surface of the cap, said cup-shaped sealingring having a flange extending upward along the surface of the capflange in position for buckling action to break the adhesion thereofwith the cap flange upon turning movement of the cap relative to theneck. I 1

HUGH W. SANFORD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name a Date 676,160 Suhl June 11, 1901726,321 Mason Apr. 28, 1903 781,702 Waugh Feb, 7, 1905 1,123,206 GastonDec. 29, 1914' 1,690,161 Evans Nov. 6, 1928 1,747,591 Moore Feb. 18,1930 1,813,949 Podel- July 14, .1931 2,047,977 McGowan July 21, 19362,062,589 Lucas Dec. 1, 1936 2,276,907 Sanford d. Mar. 17, .19422,339,702 Isele Jan, 18, 1944 2,348,014 Mallard May 2, 1944 2,372,227Sanford Mar. 27, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 32,426Australia Apr, 10, 1908 367,069 France Oct. 19, 1906 805,609 France Aug.31, 1936

